‘NYSC Appointments Followed Due Processes’

The National Youth Service Corps has maintained that appointment of state coordinators in the scheme was done on merit in line with Federal Character standards.

Speaking with Daily Trust in her office recently, the scheme’s Human Resource Manager, Mrs. Elizabeth Adimorah said any promotion and appointment done in the scheme were based on merit and not sentiments.

In a letter made available to Daily Trust by the scheme from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation dated 19th December, 2011, departments, divisions and branches should be headed by directors, deputy directors and assistant directors which she indicates were adhered to by the scheme.

According to the scheme’s Human Resource Manager, “only officers who are at level 16 who are deputy directors were qualified to become state coordinators but only three officers from the North East and North West qualified for the position. But to meet up with the federal character principle, the management of the scheme had to appoint assistant directors in level 15 from the region as state coordinators.”

The statistics of the distribution of officers to State coordinators by geopolitical zones according to NYSC is as follows; North East – 5, North West – 5, North Central – 6, South South – 8, South East – 6 while south west – 7 making a total of 37.

In the case of aides appointed by the Director General of the scheme, Brigadier General, Nnamdi Okore-Affiah, she said “they are junior officers which he appointed and he as well made the appointment cut across all regions.”

Daily Trust reported recently that controversy trailed appointments of senior officials of the NYSC as some zones were allegedly shortchanged.

Mrs. Adimorah did not explain the reported lopsided appointments of directors which was said to be skewed in favour of the south-east zone from where the director general of scheme, Brigadier General Nnamdi Okorie-Affia hails.